After six years of legislative battles, the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Bill passed in the state Assembly Wednesday with a 61-35 vote. Despite its passage, the bill will not reach the state Senate until the next session due to a legislative maneuver executed by the Republican-controlled Assembly.

The bill mandates all Wisconsin hospitals give information about and access to emergency contraception for all victims of rape.

State Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, an author of the bill, said the delay would not stop the bill from being voted on in the Democrat-controlled Senate by February. The Senate previously passed the bill 27-6.

Gov. Jim Doyle has previously stated he would sign the bill.

Lisa Boyce, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Advocates Wisconsin, said the Assembly passing the bill was a long time coming, but said she was frustrated by the intentional delay. “Today what happened will not change the ultimate outcome of this bill but is going to make rape victims wait even longer for the compassionate care that they deserve,” Boyce said.

Director of Clinical Services at University Health Services Dr. Sarah Van Orman said she viewed the bill as part of comprehensive health care and was pleased that such treatment would be available to patients in Wisconsin.

Orman said emergency contraception is currently dispensed at UHS upon request, but the bill would allow UHS to work more freely with local hospitals.